Courses stress boater safety prior to season

ALBANY – Even though the weather may still be cool outside, it is a perfect time of year to start getting prepared for the boating season, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which noted there is no better way to prepare than by taking a boater safety course.

The “Spring Aboard – Take A Boating Education Course” campaign is a nationally coordinated effort during the week of March 18-24 to increase the awareness about boater safety and the importance of taking a boating education course.

Safety advocates across the country urge boaters to enroll in a watercraft safety education course prior to getting out on the water during the main boating season.

“We know that an educated boater is safer on the water,” Tom Guess, the president of the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, the lead organization for Spring Aboard, said. “If a boater has taken a boating safety education course, the likelihood of their time spent on the water being a safe and enjoyable experience is much greater for them as well as their passengers. There’s no reason to head out on the water without knowing what you’re doing, and spring is the perfect time to take a course before the summer boating season begins.”

According to U.S. Coast Guard statistics, 77 percent of boating deaths occur on boats where the boat operator had never received boating education instruction.

A wide variety of safety courses is available for boaters across the country. Multiple options, from classroom courses offered by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and United States Power Squadrons to online offerings, are available anytime day or night.

Education course providers and offerings vary from state to state, according to corps officials.

Forty-nine states and U.S. territories require proof of completion of a boating education course for operators of some powered vessels.

Many providers of safety courses offer discounts or other incentives to anyone taking a boating education course during the week of March 18-24.

BOATsmart! (boatsmartexam.com) offers discounts on their boating safety courses and BOATERexam.com and Boat-Ed.com are offering 50 percent off the price of their courses for the entire week.

The annual Spring Aboard campaign is led by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators and produced under a grant administered by the U.S. Coast Guard. It is supported by state, federal and nonprofit partners. The course is open to participation by all states, territories, boating education organizations, instructors and course providers.

For more information, visit www.springaboard.org.

David Welker